What’s the largest number of dental implants you’ve performed on a single patient?16. Eight in the upper jaw and eight in the lower. That is the ideal number, though less would also work.

What are the do’s and don’ts of caring for dentures?Try not to wear them at night. This may not be possible for everyone, especially if a patient’s significant other may not be aware of their partner having dentures. In that case, we ask denture wearers to take them out for about one hour a day to give their gums a rest and perform proper hygiene protocol.

What is a “full mouth restoration,” and when would you recommend such a thing?“Full mouth restoration” or “full mouth reconstruction” is the term commonly used to describe restoring most, if not all, of the teeth to allow proper aesthetics, phonetics and function.

You graduated from King’s College School of Dental Surgery in London. What are the big differences in dental care between the states and the U.K.?The biggest difference that I noticed when I first came here, was the lack of, or inadequate, “safety net” for those who could not afford dental care in the U.S. This can make them burden the emergency rooms, where they still would not get the care they need. People value their smiles in the U.S. so much more than any other place I have been; this may explain why we have the best dental care in the world.

“If I wasn’t a dentist, I’d be...”This is a hard one… a race car driver and a photographer.

What kind of emotions are stirred for you when you help patients with dental or oral cancer reconstruction?Empathy and admittedly sorrow. Though the disease has a higher prevalence in smokers (especially those who drink and smoke), it can affect those who do not. You just can’t help feeling that it could affect anyone, which is why early detection is so important.

Are there any exciting new developments on the horizon in prosthodontics?CAD-CAM technology in treatment planning and fabrication of prostheses is becoming very prevalent. Depending on how far is the horizon, I would say you could expect “robotic tools” or “robots” performing part of the dental procedure in the future. After all, if they can drive a car, why not mill your tooth for a crown?